Amber Alert canceled after girl found safe, suspect in custody

A 22-year-old Maryland man was charged Monday in federal court with the online sexual enticement of a 12-year Blue Springs girl who was the subject of an Amber Alert on Sunday.

Her parents say she was babysitting at home last night on Saturday and that, before they returned home, she left with a man she met online. He called 911. Then two customers at the Six North Cafe in the Wentzville Bluffs saw the two sitting outside on the patio.

They also say this case is proof that the Amber Alert system works, as it helped them find the girl less than 24 hours after she vanished. He eventually stopped near Columbus, Ohio and turned himself in, but he hasn't been charged with any crime.

"Apparently this has been an ongoing internet conversation for sometime and finally they acted on it", says Wentzville Police Chief Kurt Frisz. Authorities said that he may be headed to Maryland with the girl, with another man driving the vehicle.

Dela Cruz was taken into custody, according to the Missouri Highway Patrol.

After the girl was reported missing, the Blue Springs Police Department investigated and found she'd been communicating with Dela Cruz using a voice and text app called "DISCORD", which is popular with online gamers. "I get them all the time when I travel from state to state".

Investigators believe they may be traveling to an unknown destination in Maryland.